Where Has all the Cash Gone?

According to Opensecrets.com 44 Million dollars have gone into the coffers of Hillary Clinton Senator from New York, 11 Million dollars have gone to Dianne Feinstein Senator from California, another 11 Million dollars to Ted Kennedy Senator from Massachusetts. Think about that for a while, 66 million dollars go to defending safe seats where their opponents have rased a combined 5 million dollars. To defend Democratic Stronholds of California, New York and Mass, we have to get a fundraising advantage of about about 13:1.

Talent Senator from MO has outspent McCaskill about 6:1 as of Augest 17th. He has out fundraised her about 5:1. Burns Senator from MT has outspent Tester by about 4:1 and has 4 times the amout of cash on hand. Allen Senator from VA has out spent Webb by 8:1 and has more then 10 times the amout of cash on hand.

66 Million dollars, we could move say 50 million dollars from the Incumbents and give it to the challangers. That still gives the incumbents a 3:1 spending advantage. But since a good portion of the 66 Million has been spent we now need to re-direct funds from the coffers of the wealthy Incumbands to the hands of the important challangers.

•  this is a great example...

  of how opensecrets.org can be a haven for investigating politicians if the MSM had the balls to do so.

  by pplpowerr on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 09:48:26 PM PDT

•  Good questions

  In theory, Clinton, Feinstein, and Kennedy could move some of their cash to worthy contenders. Does that actually happen? Dunno.

  by DBunn on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 09:52:03 PM PDT

  •  Money does move

    But not on the kind of scale I am talking about here. They can't directly move the money because of McCain-Feingold's 2000 dollar limit. That's why the money has to go directly to the underfunded.

    by pierredude on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 09:54:37 PM PDT

    •  Well.

      I think they can give as much as they want to the DSCC, right?

      I remember reading that Inouye gave the DSCC $300,000 from his campaign account so they could use it to air pro-Akaka tv ads during the primary.

      However, I highly doubt that Feinstein or Hillary have been forking over significant sums to the DSCC.

      by HellofaSandwich on Wed Sep 06, 2006 at 10:17:34 PM PDT